Geological Society of
Secretary's report
January 13, 1954
The 731st meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hall
of the Cosmos Club, Wednesday evening, 5 January 13, 1954, at 8:00 p.m.,
President Edwin T. K McKnight presiding.
The minutes of the 730th meeting were read and approved.
The secretary announced the election to active membership of
the following: Ellen L. Markward; Jules A. MacKaller; David D. Smith.
The following announcement was made:
The Council has voted for the coming year that a citation will
be issued to the two best papers for excellence in presentation.
A memorial to
H. E. Suess – "Geochemical factors in radiocarbon
dating." Discussed
"religiously" by Hunt, Ingerson, Marble, Gilluly, and Fleischer
C. B. Hunt – "Desert varnish." Discussed by
Ingerson, Cloud,
Franco Rasetti – "Early Paleozoic rocks of the St.
Lawrence Valley." Discussed by Ingerson, Boucout, Palmer and Thayer.
Attendance: 135
The meeting adjourned 10:05.
A. Van Valkenburg
Secretary
Geological Society of
Secretary's report
January 27, 1954
The 732nd meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hall
of the Cosmos Club, Wednesday evening, January 27, 1954, at 8:00 p.m.,
President Edwin T. McKnight presiding.
The minutes of the 731st meeting were read and approved
after correcting the name of Stadnichenko as a discusser.
A memorial to T. Stanton was read by John B. Reeside, Jr.
The regular program followed:
J. W. Harshbarger – "Ground water in the Navajo
Country." Discussed by Lasky, Hunt, McKnight, Sayre, Grunig
C. H. Behre – "Volcanoes of
M. R. Klepper – "Cretaceous - Tertiary geologic history
of the Elkhorn Mountains, Montana."
Discussed by fellow Yaleman Cloud and Behre
Attendance: 170
The meeting adjourned 10:05.
A. Van Valkenburg
Secretary
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
Secretary's Report
February 10, 1954
The 733rd meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hall
of the Cosmos Club, Wednesday evening, February 10, 1954, at 8:00 p.m.,
President Edwin T. McKnight presiding.
The minutes of the 732nd meeting were read and approved.
The Secretary announced that K. J. Murata was elected by the
council to complete the term of office of Theodore Bottinelly, member-at-large
of, the council, who has moved to
President McKnight announced that John B. Northrup died on
December 31, 1953.
A memorial to Fredrick Eugene Wright was road by Frank
Schairer.
The election to active membership of the following was
announced: F. R. Boyd, Jr, Geo.Phys. Lab.; Arthur T. Fernald, John S. Pomeroy,
Julius Schlocker, U.S. Geol.Survey.
The regular program followed:
J.C. Reed, Jr. – "The Catoctin formation in the
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.”
Discussed amygdaloidally by Pecora and explained from the bubble point
of view by Reed. Also discussed by Miller, Nelson and Kinkel.
J. B. Mertie, Jr. – "Classification, delineation and
measurement of nonparallel folds" Discussed by McKnight.
F. V. Stead, R. M. Moxham, and F. J. Davis -- "Progress
in airborne radioactivity surveying."
Discussed by Gilluly, Pecora, Tourtelot, Mertie, Graham, Berman, Murata,
and Andrews
Attendance: 185
The Meeting adjourned at 9:40.
A. Van Valkenburg
Secretary
Geological Society of
Secretary's Report
February 24, 1954
The 734th meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hall
of the Cosmos Club, Wednesday evening, February 24, 1954, at 8:00 P.M.,
President Edwin T. McKnight presiding.
The minutes of the 733rd meeting were read and approved after
a correction was made by Earl Ingerson of the address of Theodore Bottinelly
from
The Secretary read to the Society the council's action
requesting affiliation with the American Geologic, Institute as follows:.
The Geological Society of Washington
received a letter in late January from C. R. Longwell, President of the
American Geologic institute, inviting our Society to apply for affiliation with
the Institute. As an "affiliate", the Society would be under no
financial obligation to AGI, would have no authoritative voice in its
deliberations and decisions (as do "members"), but would be giving
its name in support of the Institute's objectives and activities.
'The purposes of the Institute as stated
in its constitution are: To advance the interests of the geological
professions; to promote cooperation of societies and other organizations active
in the fields of the earth sciences; to provide assistance to the geological
profession in matters dependent upon united action; and to foster the
application of the earth sciences to human welfare.
After due deliberation, the Council
has decided that the objectives and activities of the Institute are deserving
of the moral support of our Society, and the Council has voted to request
affiliation with the Institute.
The Secretary announced the election to active membership of
Charles J. Spengler, Geochemistry and Petrology Branch of the U.S. Geological
Survey.
The regular program followed:
A. R. Kinkel – "Structural and stratigraphic control of
ore deposition in the Shasta copper-zinc district, California." Discussed by Ferguson and Pecora.
D. M. Hopkins and W. S. Benninghoff – "Evidence of a very
warm Pleistocene interglacial interval on Seward Peninsula, Alaska."
S. H. Mamay and E. L. Yochelson – "Unusual American coal
balls." Discussed by Bradley,
McKnight, Pecora, Wallace, Milton, Lohman and Davis.
Attendance: 125
The meeting adjourned 9:15
A. Van Valkenburg
Secretary
Geological Society of
Secretary's Report
March 10, 1954
The 735th meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hall
of the Cosmos Club, Wednesday evening, March 10, 1954, at 8:00 p.m., Vice
President Charles Hunt presiding in the absence of president McKnight and First
Vice President Schairer.
The minutes of the 734th meeting were read and approved.
The election to active membership of the following was
announced: Victor N. Poe, Charles A. Sandberg, Fuels Branch, USGS.
The regular program followed:
R. L. Meyrowitz – "High index liquids" Discussed by
Lohman, Coates, and Van Valkenburg.
F. E. Senftle – "
C.C. Bates – "Present methods of observing ice in the
sea.” Discussed by Lt. David Smith,
Neuman, Whitmore, Graham, Pecora, Peterson and Mooney.
Attendance: 95
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
A. Van Valkenburg
Secretary
Geological Society of
Secretary’s report
March 24, 1954
The 736th meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hall
of the Cosmos Club, Wednesday evening, March 24, 1954, at 8:00 p.m., President
Edwin T. McKnight presiding.
The minutes of the 735th meeting were read and approved.
Charles Milton gave an informal communication on “Deer Bones
with lead, copper, and silver mineralization.”
The election of active membership of Mortimer H. Staatz, U.S.
Geological Survey, was announced.
The regular program followed:
A. J. Boucot, R.S.Harner, Gordon MacDonald and Charles Milton
– "Age of the Bernardston formation, Massachusetts.” Discussed by Marble, Currier,
Woodring.
H. T. Evans— "
Discussed by Van Valkenburg, Lovering, and Guild.
L.R. Stieff and T. W. Stern – "The isotopic composition
of lead from Colorado Plateau
Minerals."
Discussed by Marble, Wallace, Mertie, Lovering and Fleischer.
Attendance: 180
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m
A. Van Valkenburg
Secretary
Geological Society of
Secretary's Report
April 28, 1954
The 737th meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hall
of the Cosmos Club, Wednesday evening, April 14, 1954, at 8:00 P.M., President
Edwin T. McKnight presiding.
The minutes of the 736th meeting were read and approved.
The election to active membership of the following was
announced: Robert J. Dingman, Ground Water, U.S. Geological Survey Baltimore,
Maryland; William G. Melton P
& S Branch, U.S. Geological Survey.
The secretary announced the "U. S. Geological Survey
Night" for Wednesday, April 21, 1954, sponsored by the Washington Society
of Engineers in cooperation with the D. C.
Council of Engineering and Architectural Societies.
Michael Fleischer gave an informal communication on "The
Progress of a Geologic Glossary", sponsored by A.G.I. Discussed by Marble.
The regular program followed:
W. E. Davies – "Geology of the
Krinsley –"Surficial Geology of the
Harley Barnes – "Age and stratigraphic relations of the
Ignacio quartzite in southwestern
Attendance: 108
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 P.M.
A. Van Valkenburg
Secretary
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
Secretary's Report
April 28, 1954
The 738th meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hall
of the Cosmos Club, Wednesday evening, April 28, 1954, at 8:00 p.m., President
Edwin T. McKnight presiding.
The minutes of the 737th meeting were read and approved.
The election to active membership of Elaine McNallan, USGS,
was announced.
President McKnight read a letter received from the secretary
of A.G.I., stating that GSW was elected an affiliate of A.G.I.
W.D. Johnston, Jr., gave an informal communication on the
manganese deposits of
T.P. Thayer gave a second informal communication on the
problems of unusual breccias interbedded with sedimentary rocks of the
A third communication was given by Palmer on fossil insects in
nodules of Miocene deposits.
The regular program followed:
Marjorie Hooker – "The Great Glen of
W. E. Benson – "Paleocene-Eocene boundary in
J. R. Balsley – "Reverse magnetization of
For the record, the second “l” has been put back in the
spelling of Balsley, which was misspelled on the program.
Attendance: 130
The meeting adjourned at 10:05.
A. Van Valkenburg
Secretary
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
Secretary's Report
May 12, 1954
The 739th meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hail
of the Cosmos Club, Wednesday evening, May 12, 1954, at 8:00 p.m., President
Edwin T. McKnight presiding.
The minutes of the 738th meeting were read and approved.
President McKnight announced an omission in Roland Brown's
paper on the history of G.S.W. G. P.
Murdie was president of the Society in 1939 and the subject of his presidential
address was "Placer Gold in
President McKnight also announced a committee for organizing a
roster of speakers on various geologic subjects who will be available for
speaking engagements to civic organizations. The committee consists of Averitt,
Whitmore, Hunt and Cameron, and Chairman Sherman Neuschel.
Charles Hunt gave an informal communication on the history of
A.G.I. and its objectives.
The regular program followed:
R. H. Morris – "Heavy mineral studies in northern
Isidore Zietz and R. G. Henderson – "Interpretation of
aeromagnetic maps by means of fields derived from model experiments." Discussed by McGuinness, Balsley, Robinson,
Berman, Dempsey, Milton and Graham.
H. R. Gault – "Geochemistry of some lower Paleozoic
carbonate rocks in
Attendance: 97
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
A. Van Valkenburg
Secretary
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
Secretary's Report
October 27, 1954
The 740th meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hall
of the Cosmos Club, Wednesday evening, October 27, 1954, at 8:00 p.m.,
President Edwin T. McKnight presiding.
The minutes of the 739th meeting were read and approved.
President McKnight called attention to membership
qualifications for G.S.W.
The election to active membership of John G. Parker and Sarkes
G. Ampagoomian, U.S. Bureau of Mines, was announced.
The regular program followed:
D. S. Carderi— "Storm microseisms" Discussed by
Guiles and Forbes.
R. G. Henderson anf Isidore Zietz – "Interpretation of
aeromagnetic anomalies" Discussed by McKnight and Hack.
A motion picture film entitled "In the Beginning"
produced by the Socony Vacuum Oil Company.
No discussion.
Attendance: 80
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
A. Van Valkenburg
Secretary
Geological Society of
Secretary's report
November 10, 1954
The 741st meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hall
of the Cosmos Club, Wednesday evening, November 10, 1954, at 8:00 p.m.,
President Edwin T. McKnight presiding.
The minutes of the 740th meeting were read and approved.
The election to active membership of the following was
announced: Margaret Cooper and George N. Pipiringos, TEPCO, Geologic Div. U.S. Geol. Surv.; Paul
T. Voegeli and Quentin F. Paulson, detailed to Mil. Geol. Br. from Ground Water
Br., U. S. Geol. Surv.;
William Back, Ground Water Br.,
Frank Whitmore gave an informal communication describing the educational
committee's work to date and passed out questionnaire forms for those
interested in participating in speaking engagements to Boy Scout and other
organizations.
The regular program followed:
George Switzer and A. J. Boucot—"The mineral composition
of some microfossils." Discussed by
Ingerson, Guild, and Coats.
Michael Fleischer – "Estimates of the abundances of some
of the chemical elements and a consideration of their reliability." Discussed by Guild, Chayes, and Marble
H. R. Cornwall and W. S. White – "Native copper ore
deposits." A spirited discussion
followed as to whether the copper ore was brought up from the devil's own
cauldron or whether the ore peacefully percolated down from above. The
discussers were Fleischer, Murdie, Coats, Hunt, Murata, Guild and Heyl.
Attendance: 105
The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
A. Van Valkenburg
Secretary
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
Secretary's Report
December 8, 1954
The 742nd meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hall
of the Cosmos Club, Wednesday evening, December 8, 1954, at 8:00 p.m.,
President Edwin T. McKnight presiding.
The minutes of the 741st meeting were read and approved.
The Secretary announced the election to active membership of
the following:
Dr. Hans P. Eugster Dr. W. R. Rowland
Dr. Gunnar Kullerud Dr. James R. Smith
Dr. William S. MacKenzie Dr. George C. Tilton
of the Geophysical Laboratory,
Carnegie Institute of
Dr. William E. B. Benson, Executive
Secretary, Div. of Earth Sciences, National Research Council;
and the following of the U. S.
Geological Survey:
Mrs. Carmen Johnson Gerald Myer
Edith Becker Seymore O. Schlanger
J. Bartlett Bowles Druid
Agnes B. Grametbaur J. A. Van Lieu
Norman J. Stewart Lola
Donald H. Wolfe Thor Killsgarrd
Carl L.
Huffaker Topographic
Div.
Robert R. Bennett Ground Water Branch,
Water Res. Div.
Glen C.
Prescott
Ruth R. Dunaven
Elisabeth S. Loud Library
Georgianna H.
Conant
Robert J. Hachman
Charles H. Marshall
Charles L. Pillmore Alaskan Geology Branch,
Geol. Div.
Louis C. Conant
William R. Keefer Fuels Branch Geol. Div.
Joseph L. Weitz
Mary Anastas.
George Ashby
Robert G. Coleman
Charles R. Naeser Geochem.& Petrol.
Branch, Geol. Div
Alfred M. Pomier
Jack J. Rowe
Katherine E.
Valentine
Roland G. Henderson Geophysics Branch, Geol.
Div.
George B. Mangan
Isidore Zietz
Livingston Chase
Harren E. Grabau
Averill B. Shepps
V. Chester Shepps
E. Osmun Barr
Norman F. Sohl Paleo. &
Stratigr. Branch Geol. Div.
John P. Alters
James A. Calkins
Henry R. Cornwall
Benjamin Gildersleeve Mineral Deposits Branch,
Geol. Div.
John T. Hosterman
Robert G. Luedke
Hilliam P. Schulhof
Rosina L. Yoder
Jerry C. Olson Min. Dep. Branch, Geol. Div.
The regular program followed:
Presidential address: Edwin T. McKnight – "Geologic
environment of ore deposition in the Tri-State region"
Attendance: 150
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
A. Van Valkenburg
Secretary
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
62nd Annual Meeting
December 8, 1954
The 62nd Annual meeting of the Geological Society of
Washington was held in the Assembly Hall of the Cosmos Club, Wednesday,
December 8, 1954, 9:00 p m., President Edwin T. McKnight presiding. About 150
members were present.
The minutes of the 61st annual meeting were read and approved
after Mr. Fleischer corrected the secretary’s error of reading Mr. Fleischer's
name as both author and co-author of the prize-winning paper.
The Awards Committee appointed to judge the best formal papers
for the year 1954 consisted of Chairman P. H. Guild, Ralph Miller and Michael
Fleischer. As no prize money was made available to award winners, the committee
passed the hat and were generously rewarded by contributions from some sixty
persons. The first prize of $20 was awarded to S. H. Mamay for the paper
written with E. L. Yochelson entitled "Unusual
American Coal Balls" presented to the Society on February
24, 1954. A second prize of $10.00 was
awarded to J. C. Reed, Jr. for his paper, "The Catoctin formation in the
Shenandoah National Park,
Mr. Woodring made a motion that the Council be instructed to
appropriate monies for future awards for the best papers designated by the
Awards Committee. The motion was seconded and passed by the Society.
The Sleeping Bear Cup annually awarded for the best informal
communication or best discussion of a paper presented during the year was
awarded by Bob Garrels to Charlie Hunt for his discussions of White and
The annual report of the treasurer was presented by Ted
Woodward and the Society's finances appeared to be in good standing in spite of
one bad check. In the absence of the
Auditing Committee's Chairman Earl Ingerson, Mr. Woodward read the report of
the Committee. Mr. Dow wanted to know
why the Secretary reported the occurrence of 12 Society meetings whereas the
treasurer had reported only 11 meetings. The treasurer pointed out that he
closed his books one meeting ahead of time so that his report would be ready
for the Annual meeting. The treasurer's report was accepted without further
discussion.
Under the heading of new business, Paul Averitt made a motion
that the Committee on Entertainment be censured for failing to serve beer
during the recess between the regular and annual meetings. No action taken.
The Society then proceeded with the election of officers for
the year 1955. No nominations were
received from the floor. The following officers were elected:
President – Kenneth Lohman
Vice Presidents – James R. Balsley, first vice-president,
Harry Ladd, second vice- president
Secretary— (two year term) Marjorie Hooker
Treasurer— Theodore Woodward
Members at large of Council – (two year term) Rachel M.
Barker, Walter S. White, Edward J. Dwornik
Vice President,
The meeting adjourned
10:00 p.m.
A. Van Valkenburg
Secretary